Track wrench



Oct. 30, 19.34. Hl TALBOVY'S` v 1,978,513

TRACK WRENCH 6A Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 20, 1953 j?? Uwe fr W? H. H TALBoYs 1,978,513

TRACK WRENCH Filed March 20, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3o, 1934.

In Ven for mfy//Zaj y FMI@ @um Afm@ wb Oct. 30, 1934. H'AH. TALBQYS 1,978,513

TRAGK'WRENCH Oct. 30, 419234. H H TALBQYS I 1,978,513

TRACK WRENCH Filed March 20, 1933 @Sheets-Sheet 4 '23 Oct. 30, 1934. H, H. TALBoYs 1,978,513

TRACK WRENCH Filed March 20, 1935 6 Sheebsv-Sheecl 5 l wmlwmw ,wmw 1111 l .I W El |n:- n,

Oct. 30, 1934. H. H. TALBoYs 1,978,513

TRACK WRENCH Filed March 2o, 193s e sheets-sheet e j?? Z/c/f? fr Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED sTATEs TRACK WRENCH Henry H. Talboys, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Nordberg Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 20,1933, Serial No. 661,764l

16 Claims.

My invention relates to a power wrench. It is particularly applicable for employment in tightening or removing the nuts and bolts employed in connection with railroad tracks.

is the provision of such a device which shall be quick and efficient in its operation, simple and easy to handle. Another object is the provision of improved socket means for use in connection with such a device, for grasping nuts or the like.

Another object is an improvement in positioning such socket. Another object is the provision of such a device which may be swung as a whole about a center, in order, for example, `to take care of longer or shorter bolts. Another' object is the lli provision of means for ready disassembly. An-

other object is the provision of means for permitting the device to be rolled off of the track when required. Another object is the provision of an improved speed control mechanism in connection with such a device, Another object is the provision of an improved overload release for such a device. Another object is the provision of an improved roller or wheel for such a device. Another' object is the provision of an improved transmission means in connection with such a device and applicable, for example, for use with overload release means. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

' Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevation of a part of the overload release structure with parts broken away;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7-7 4,5 of Figure l; i y

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail of the structure shown in Figures l and 8; y

r) Figure 10o is a plan view of the carriage-or base frame of the device;

Figure 11 is a plan view of a swinging frame mounted on said base;

Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 1l;

One object vministra) Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 1; n

Figure 14 is a section cn the line 14-14 of Figure' 3; and y Figure 15 is a detail of a portion shown in Figure 1.

Like parts are indicated byl like symbols throughout the specication and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A indicate any suitable railway ties upon which are mounted rails A1 which may be secured to the ties as by spikes A2. A3 indicate sh plates adapted to connect adjacent rail ends, which plates are apertured as at A4 in line with corresponding apertures through the rails, which apertures may receivebolts A5 with heads A6 and securing nuts A7. Referring to Figure 10, B generally indicates a base frame or carriage formed of a plurality of parallel tubular members herein shown as square and indicated as B1 B1. They may be connected by transverse braces B2. The members B1 are also connected by bearing pins or pipes B1 upon which rotate rollers B4 each of which includes a multiple conic 'tread B5 and a single flange at one edge thereof, B6. B'I generally indicates a forward eX- tension from one end of the frame which is provided at its end with a sleeve or pipe B8, extending downwardly below the level of the lower portion of the frame. B9 are any suitable transverse braces for the extension B7. B1u indicates a tube welded across .the frame B in which is removably mounted an inner tube of somewhat lesser diameter B11 which may be locked in position therein as by the pin B12. It carries at its outer end a stub shaft B13 shown in Figure 2, surrounded by an insulating sleeve B14 about which rotates a roller B15 inwardly flanged as at B16. B17' indicates a segmental track element secured to the frame B hereinafter called theouter track. One of the members B2 is adapted to serve as an inner track. IB18 indicates a. vertical bearing sleeve which may be welded or otherwise secured to the inner of the members B2. B19 is a locking rod rotatably mounted in upwardly extending supports B20 and provided with locking ears or elements B21, the purpose of which will later appear. '111e connecltion between B1o and B11 is preferablyadjustable so that the effective length of the lateral extension between the tracks may be varied at will.

In Figures 11 and 12 is illustrated an upper carriage generally indicated as C. It includes generally parallel side frame members C1 connected by a plurality of transverse members C2 one of which is hollow as at C? and carries a roller C1 adapted to rest upon one of the members B2 of the base or frame or lower carriage B. C5 is a frame supporting a bearing sleeve C9 through which passes a king pin C'l shown in Figure 2 which also passes through the bearing sleeve B19, whereby the upper carriage C is pivoted to the lower carriage or base B. At the opposite end of the frame C from said sleeve C9 are additional rollers C7 mounted in laterally extending ears C9, such rollers being adapted to ride upon the track B11 of the lower carriage B. The end of the upper carriage is provided with opposed inner faces C9 which may serve as' lock abutments for the lccking members B21 when they are swung into locking position in which they are shown in Figure 12. The faces C9 form the edges of inclined portions C19 which join at the transverse bevel or inclined portions C11 associated with downward and generally vertical faces C12, C13, the whole forming an end reinforcement for the upper carriage C. The side frame members C1 arel upwardly extended, as shown in Figure l2 the edges terminating in three bearing half sleeves C14, C15 and C19. At the lower side of the structure as shown in Figure 11 a. single upper member may serve to complete all three bearings. I have illustrated, however, in Figure 12, two separate members which complete the upper side of the structure of Figure 11, namely one casting C1'1 which completes the bearings C14 and C15 and an additional casting C19 which completes the bearing.C19, which is inwardly offset from the other. C19 indicate bosses to which any suitable engine structure C2o may be secured. C21 indicate lateral extensions or lugs to which may be secured arcuate members or hoops C22 with transverse tubular braces or supporting members C29 the lower two of which may be extended as at C24 to serve as handles.

Referring for example to Figure 3, D indicates the drive shaft of the engine C29 which terminates in a bevel pinion D1. It is illustrated as constantly in mesh with two bevel gears D2 D3 respectively. Each of these gears forms part of a clutch element having respectively 4the drums D4 D5 which rotate freely about the shaft D5 upon any suitable roller bearings D7 and are in the form of internal gears with teeth as at D9 in mesh with toothed gear plates D9. Each of these plates is associated with a hub D19 keyed to the shaft D9, Each such hub has associated with it a plate D11 fixed to it and an opposed plate D12 movable in relation thereto with springs D19 tending normally to separate them. It will be understood that the two clutch members are selectively operated one at a time whereby one or the other of l gears D2 D3 is caused by rotation of the bevel the moving plates D12 against the fixed plate D11 thereby clamping the clutch plates D9 and holding them against rotation. lin other words, when the shaft F is moved in one direction one of the clutch plates D9 is locked in position, the other being free to rotate between the then loose plates D11r and D12. When the shaft F is moved in the opposite direction the first clutch plate is released and the opposite clutch plate is clamped. Since the clutch assemblies are both constantly in mesh with the bevel pinion D1 and are both constantly rotating the result is a rotation of the shaft D9 in one direction or the other. When the shaft F is in the intermediate position there 'is no rotation of either of the plates D9 and therefore no rotation of the shaft D9. The shaft D9 rotates in any suitable ball bearings D15 seated in the bearings C19. To the outer end of the shaft D9 is secured the drive pinion D19.

The drive pinion D19 is in mesh with a gear E loose on the transverse shaft E1, which shaft rotates in roller bearings E2 in the bearing sleeves C15.

Associated with the gear E is an overload release shown in greater detail in Figures 5 and 6. The gear E is provided with ribs E5 which extend outwardly and form two bearings E4 connected by a reinforcing rib E5 the whole tied together by a flange or plate E9. Pivoted to the bearings E4 are opposite arms Er1 which approach each other in opposed cylindrical heads E9 apertured as at E9 through which aperture passes a bolt E19 having at opposite ends thereof spring abutments E11 one of which may be in the form of a nut for tightening the compression of the springs E12 compressed between the abutments E11 and the heads E9 as shown in Figure 5. It will be clear that these springs tend to move the arms E7 inwardly toward each other. E2o indicates a spacing washer interposed between the heads E9, the purpose of which will later appear. Each arm is provided with a roller E13 rotating about a pin E14. The arms E7 are held in position by pins E15 passing through the bearings E4 and the forked bearings of the arms. The pins E14 and E15 all are shown with enlarged heads E19 which are held in position by locking plates E1'I on the arms E1.

G indicates a hub keyed to the end of the shaft E1 as by the key G1 but also split as at G2 and clamped as by the bolt G9 and nut G4. Extending from each side thereof and unitary therewith are webs G5 terminating in irregularly rounded cam tracks G9 which are adapted tohengage the rollers E13. Each is provided with a central projection G1 which engages the roller and which, in response to predetermined force or resistance, causes the rollers to override them and thereby compresses the springs E12 and separates the ends of the arms E1. It will be clear that under normal driving strains the drive from the engine will be through the pinion D19, the gear E, the hub G to the shaft E1. Normally, the gear E and the hub G rotate as a unit,the gear being free to rotate about the shaftY E1, but'the hub G being locked for rotation with the shaft E1. Therefore as ,long as the gear E and the hub G are connected by the structure shown in Figure 5, they will rotate] in unison as if the gear E were also locked to theshaft E1. Against an overload, however, to prevent killing the engine, and also to give uniform bolt tension, and in case of need, to prevent breakage, rollers E15 override the projections G'1 and in effect the driving connection between the hub G and the gear E is interrupted, thus preventing strain upon the device and breakage. lThis device is vequally effective in either direction since upon reversal of the direction of the drive the members G9 simply ride around gone-half revolution and engage on the opposite side.

H H1, in Figure 3, indicate respectively high speed and low speed gears free for rotation in relation to the shaft E1 but provided with clutch elements or projections H2 adapted for engagement with the clutch sleeve H3 which is splined upon r tion.

the shaft and which is controlled by any suitable clutch yoke or fork H4. l

I indicates a shaft mounted in theroller bearings I1 in thebearing sleeves C11. Keyed to it is a gear I2 in mesh with the gear H1 and a gear I3 in mesh with the gear H. I1 indicates a triple sprocket integral with the shaft I and adapted to drive any suitable flexible drive chain or the like generally indicated as I5. Flanges I5 guide the ends of wrench arms I7 which are provided with a roller bearing connection generally indicated as I8 whereby they may be rotated about the shaft I. I9 indicates an eccentric effective to vary the length of the arm to take up slack of the chain I5. I indicates any suitable securing means such as a bolt and nut whereby the eccentric I9 may be adjusted at any desired posi- 110 are bearing plates separating the wrench arms from the adjacent gears. The inner end of the wrench arm or arms is well shown in Figure 3 and the opposite end is well shown in Figures 7 and 8. The side arm sections I'I are united as at K in Figures 'l and 8, a member of generally arcuate cross-section. K1 indicates a sprocket shaft with integral sprocket members K2 about which pass the links of the chain.I5. This sprocket shaft K1 is mounted vin any suitable roller bearings K3 and is provided at each end with squared tapered end members Kt1 which penetrate somewhat loosely a corresponding aperture K5 in a socket member generally indicated as K6 with its socket aperture KI formed to conform to an eight pointed star, in effect two squares angularly set. In order to .hold the socket members rin position they are first slipped on the squared ends K4 and then the holding plates K8 are dropped into position, they being formed to penetrate the circumferential slots K2. The plates K8 may be held by gravity in position, or any suitable locking means may be employed for locking them in place. The wrench arm I7 is provided with laterally extending earsy I adapted to receive adjustmentbolts I21 bearing against the inclined faces C1, as shown in Figure l. This adjustment will permit lining up the sockets with the bolts of the particular track Worked on and prevent upward lifting of either forward roller B4, or rear roller B4 according to the direction of rotation of the sockets. If

this stop adjustment were not used one end of v the machine might be lifted from the rail on a hard turn of the socket.

L indicates a spring tending normally to raise the wrench arm I7 upwardly away from the Work. The upper'end'of the spring may be secured as to a Ichain L1 and effective adjustment means, the chain being adapted readily to penetrate a slot L2 shown in Figure 15, in a supporting bracket L2, secured to'the end of one of the members C22. The lower en-d of the spring Lis hooked as at L4 into a transverse member L5 on the wrencharm I1. L6 are uprights secured tothe end of the wrench arm and connected by braces L'l with an intermediate portion of the wrench member as at the transverse member L5. The uprights L6 carry a sleeve L2, shown in Figure 13, in which is mounted a shaft L2. Rotatable about opposite ends of the shaft are sleeves L10 L11 which may be controlled as by the handles L12 L13. The sleeve L1o is provided with a lever arm L14 secured to a link L15 which in turn is loosely secured to a lever L16 adapted to rotate a longitudinally extending control shaft L17 upon the opposite end of which is the arm L1H which controls by a loose connection the endwise movement of the shaft F shown in Figure 4. The shaft L12, shown in Figure 1, is provided with a universal joint L19 and is held in bearings L20 and is also provided with any suitable slipping or telescopic connection L21 whereby a variation of length is permitted. The sleeve L11 is provided with an arm L22 secured to a link L23 which in turn is loosely secured to an arm L21 adapted to rotate the shaft L25 the opposite end of which is provided with any suitable yoke or member for imparting endwise movement to the clutch member H2. The yoke is diagrammatically shown as at H1 as in Figure 3, it being understood that in response to rotation of the shaft L25 the clutch member H3 will be moved along the shaft E1. Any suitable bearing means may be provided for the shaft L25 and any suitable telescopic connection. I prefer normally to maintain drive through the high speed gears H and\I2.. I therefore provide a spring L20 adapted to move the arm L21 in the proper direction to maintain s'uch engagement.

It will be realzed that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made 1 in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting 1 me -to my specific showing.

`The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In working on railroad tracks, one frequently necessary operation in connection with Vlaying 1 new track or taking .up or re-laying old, is the tightening and untightening of the bolts passing through rail ends and rail connecting or fish plates. Tghtening or untightening these nuts and bolts manually is a tiresome, slow and ex- 1 pensive operaton, owing to the number of bolts which must be handled and the size of the gang which is necessary to operate on them with any speed. My wrench permits a single operator to tighten and untighten bolts and nuts at maxi- 1 mum speed and with minimum effort, with the resultant saving in time and in labor costs.

Stated broadly, my device includes a base frame B mounted on longitudinally spaced rollers, which rides upon'a rail the center of mass 1 being generally algned with the rail. This base frame or lower carriage is balanced by the laterally extending member B10 B11 which carries an insulated roller or wheel B15 which rests lon the opposite rail of the track. The center of mass 1 of theentire device is between the two rails but only slightly withn the rail over which the carriage B is positioned, so that the carriage can readily be rolled olf of the track. In such case the hoops C22 serve as rollers whereby the car- 1 riage may simply be turned-upside down by a single operation by a single man, being laterally withdrawn from the track :'n the course of its tilting movement on the hoops C22. Thus the single operator can readily get the wrench off of the l track if a train is coming or if another piece of rail equipment is to pass. The hoops C22 not only permit this tilt'ng movement but serve as a species of protection for the mechanism during the tilting and also serve as ready means for the attachment of the members C23 the ends of some of which, as at C21, serve ashandlesfor the ready movement of the device along the rails, or in case two or more men wish to lift the device bodily off the track. 1

l surfaces C9 of the upper carriage.

Pivoted as at C7 to the lower carriage or base member B is the upper carriage or frame generally indicated as C. The two carriages may be held against relative movement by the locking means shown in Figures 11 and 12, including the tiltable members B21 which abut against the They may be so locked when the device is simply being moved along the tracks and is not in use. When the operator is using the device, however, the locking means are released so that the carriage C may be readily swung around its pivot, as it rides on its supporting rollers. Mounted on the upper carriage is any suitable power source, such as the motor generally indicated as C which, through the earlier described transmission, is effective to rotate the wrench sockets K6. These sockets are at the end of the wrench arm I7. In use the operator swings the upper carriage C laterally in order to position the wrench arm on one side or the other of the rail he is working on. He may then thrust down manually against the spring L until he moves the wrench arm into the position in which it is shown in full line in Figure l, at the proper level to engage the bolt ends or nuts upon which the operator is working. A lateral movement is then suicient to move the socket member into nut engaging position. The clutch may then be actuated as by a rotation of the sleeve L11 and the handle L12 and the desired speed may be governed by rotation of the sleeve L10 by means of the handle L12. In any case, the socket member is rotated and the nut screwed on or off, as the case may be. Since the operator is finished working on a given nut he may release his normal downward pressure on the members L1o L11 or on the number L8, and the spring L is then eective to drawthe wrench arm up into the inoperative position to clear the rail, shown in dotted line in Figure 1. The effective tension of the spring may be varied by varying the position of the chain L1 in the slot L2, as is clear from Figures 1 and 15.

In practice, I nd it valuable to provide an overload release and I employ the structure shown in Figure 1 and in considerable detail in Figures 5 and 6. and overload release which is equally effective in either direction of rotation or drive. It is in effect an adjustable disengaging means or connection between the gear E and the shaft E1, being either positively in or out of engagement, likeI the action of a jaw clutch, the gear E being loose on the shaft E1 but being connected thereto through the keyed hub G and the earlier described tripping connection. When there is such resistance to rotation that the rollers E13 override the projections G7, the effective driving connection is broken. The springs E12, however, normally hold the parts in the position in which they are shown in Figure 5, providing a constant driving connection. When there is a change in the direction of rotation, the members G5 simply rotate through something less than 180 degrees and are urged in reverse direction against the rollers E13. As shown in Figure 5, I illustrate a washer or ller piece E2 which is positioned between the two heads E8 and which has the important function of securing a uniform overload release of the mechanism. It is effective to hold the arms E7 so far apart that the rollers below described as E3 will not quite touch the cam tracks G6. If one of these rollers is permitted to touch the surface of the cam track Gr6 the mechanism may turn before the rollers E13 contact the central projection D7. The interval between the two may be very slight and is therefore not indicated in the figure. This washer E2o may if desired be made of rubber, ber or other soft material, thereby lessening the shock on the mechanism when the springs E12 snap the arms E7 together after they have been spread by overriding the projection G7.

In order to prevent any accidental unintended tilting of the device I may'employ a removable counterweight B23, which may be loosely positioned about the shaft B11 upon a supporting plate B22 and which may be quickly removed by the handle B to reduce weight when lifting the machine. If preferred, the counterweight may be welded or xed in place. B31 indicates a lug welded to the member B11, the object of which is to prevent the weight B23 from sliding laterally on the arm B11, when it is movably positioned thereon.

This machine is designed primarily as a maintenance tool. It will reach a nut on almost any track bolt on a rail, at forks and switch points. The machine pivots fromthe extreme rear end, about the bolt C7, and the wrench sockets K8 are set at a slight angle so that they go over the nut parallel to the axis of the bolt. I have illusrated the machine as having two speeds, depending upon whether the drive is through the gears H or H1. Change from high to low speed or vice versa instantaneously is possible, or the device may be left in neutral, with the motor running.

The overload release may be set to unload at any desired torque and will so unload continuously without any change in the torque, due to the fact that the unloading or release is governed by a spring and not by friction. Therefore, the foreman can set the machine so that it will operate all day long, pulling up every bolt to the same degree of tightness, which tests show have but slight variation which may be due to the extra friction o f some nuts over others. In tightening nuts, for example, the foreman may set the device at the desired nut tightness and that is as tight as the nut can be set, because the setting of the spring causes a release when the desired tightness of the nut is reached. Thereby, the operators cannot over-tighten a nut, or twist off a bolt, when operated at high speed.

In maintenance work, if the socket member K6 is put over a nut and the nut does not turn without unloading the machine. the operator does not know whether the nut is tight enough or whether it is frozen to the bolt. A quick turn of the wrist to employ the control thrusts the machine in reverse at low speed. This cracks the nut loose, and the machine may again be reversed, at high speed, and the unloading device then governs the tightening of the nut in the usual way, leaving it at a predetermined tighti' ness or tension.

The machine is available for de-nutting or running up nuts with a rail laying gang, On denutting a start on low cracks the nut loose and the machine is then quickly turned into high, to jf.

run the nut off. On running the nuts up, in rail laying work, it is only necessary to do this in high, where the machine unloads at the proper point, because of the overload setting of the springs E12.

The torque of the machine in low gear is suicient to twist off any frozen nut on old rusted bolts, or even break the stem of such bolts. When running in reverse, to loosen a nut from a bolt, the automatic release shown in Figz when the machine is. lifted byhandles C24.

ure 5 is out of action for the half turn following the change of direction and permits 'the roller to come in contact with the projection G7 with a hammer blow. This subjects a frozen nut to the same effect as though a wrench were used and it were struck with a hammer. The shocks or blows tend to loosen up the frozen parts more effectively, and the momentary shock of the roller hitting the projection G7, because of the inertia of the arms E7 will momentarily produce a greater torque than would be occasioned by the relatively stationary position of the, roller and projection G7.

When direction of rotation is reversed my machine automatically loosens the chuck or socket K7 from the nut, due to the reaction or snap from the overload release, coupled with a certain amount of spring continuing in the train of power of the gears and sprocket chain. In other.V

words, a certain lost motion in the parts is of great advantage Ain automatically releasing the socket with a positive snap action on the nut. Furthermore, when the friction clutch or connection is released, the entire mechanism be-` On maintenance work in practice I have found it easy to tighten two joints per minute, including the moves. In rail laying, I have found that one 4-bolt joint can easily be tightened every 50 seconds including the moving of the machine from joint to joint.

'I'he'machine is very easily moved, partlydue to its light weight, and particularly to the `fact that it is mounted on double cone shaped rollers which keep the wheels centered on the rail and eliminate flange friction. The ball bearing mounting for the rollers may be employed. As the rollers are only single flanged, they willride through switches and frogs Without trouble.

In order to prevent excess lateral movement of the upper carriage C, I have provided limit stops B25 welded beneath the roller engaging flange of the segmental track B17 which may be engaged by the angular brackets C25 secured to either side of the upper carriage C as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 11 and 12. Note that one end of the angular bracket C25 extends beneath the roller engaging flange of the'track B17 of the lowe er carriage B preferably with suicient clearance so as not to contact said flange. Another function of the brackets is to lift the frame B Another function of the brackets C25 is to support the forward portion of the upper carriage if the power wrench is tilted or rolled off upon the hoops C22 giving in effect a three-point suspension by means of the two brackets C25 and the .king pin or bolt C7. j

Iclaim:

1. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track, and a power wrench mounted` thereon, including an arm mounted for lateralI oscillation in relation to said baseframe, about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail on which the base frame rides, said arm being also oscillatable about a horizontal axis, and a wrench element on said arm rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, and means for rotatlng 1 2. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted uponla rail of a track, and a power wrench mounted thereon, including an arm mounted for lateral oscillation in relation to said base frame, about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail on which the base frame rides, said arm being also oscilla-table about a horizontal axis, and a pair of wrench elements on said arm, rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, and means for rotating them, the wrench elements being oppositely and outwardly faced on opposite sides of the lower end of said' arm.

3. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mountedupon a rail of a track, and a power wrench mounted thereon, including an arm mounted for lateral oscillation in relation to said base frame, about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail .on which the base frame rides, said arm being also oscillatable about a horizontal axis, and a pair of wrench elements on said arm, rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, and means for rotating them, the wrench elements being oppositely and outwardly faced on opposite sides of the lower end of said arm, the axis of rotation of said wrench elements being slightly inclined in relation to each other. A

4. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a' Arail of a track, and a. power wrench mounted fithereon, including an arm mounted for lateral oscillation in relation to said base frame, about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail on which the base frame rides, said arm being also oscillatable about a horizontal axis, and a pair of'wrench elements on said arm, rotatable about a generally Vhorizontal axis, and means for rotating them,.the wrench elements being oppositely and outwardly faced on opposite sides of the lower end of said arm, the axis of rotation of said Wrench elements being slightly inclinedin rela.- tion to each other, the wrench carrying end of said arm extending longitudinally substantially beyond the end of the base frame.

5. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track, and a sub-frame mounted upon said base frame for lateral oscillation about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail on which the base frame rides, and a power wrench mounted thereupon,l including an arm mounted for vertical oscillation in relation to said sub-frame, about a` generally horizontal axis, and

a wrench element on said arm, rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, and means for rotating 6. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts fromrails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track, and a sub-frame mounted upon said base frame for lateral oscillation about a generally vertical axis aligned vertically with the rail on which the base frame rides, and a power wrench mounted thereupon, including an arm mounted for vertical oscillation in relation to said sub-frame, about a generally horizon-tal axis, and a pair of wrench elements on said arm, rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, and

means for rotating them, the wrench elements being oppositely and outwardly faced on opposite sides of the lower end of said arm.

7. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for oscillation about a generally horizontal axis, a wrench rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of said support, the axis of rotation of said wrench being generally horizontal, and means for rotating said wrench selectively in a plurality of directions of rotation.

8. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for oscillation about a generally horizontal axis, a wrench rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of said support, the axis of rotation of said wrench being generally horizontal, a motor supported by said main frame, and a drive extending from said motor to said Wrench.

9. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for vertical movement in relation to said sub-frame and the rail upon which the subframe is mounted, said wrench: support extending substantially beyond the end of the frame, and a pair of wrench elements rotatably mounted up'on said support, one at each side thereof, the wrench elements being oppositely faced, `the wrench support being movable, at each side of the rail, to a level effective to align the wrench elements with the nuts to be operated upon.

10. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto` about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for vertical movement in relation to said sub-frame and the rail upon which the sub-frame is mounted, said wrench support extending substantially beyond the end of the frame, and a pair of wrench elements rotatably mounted upon said support, one at each side thereof, the wrench elements being oppositely faced, the wrench support being movable, at each side of the rail, to a level effective to align the wrench elements with the nuts to be operated upon, and means tending normally to hold said wrench support at a level above the top of the rail.

1l. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for vertical movement in relation to said sub-frame and the rail upon which the sub-frame is mounted; said wrench support extending substantially beyond the end of the frame, and a pair of wrench elements rotatably mounted upon said support, one at each side thereof, the wrench elements being oppositely faced, the wrench support being movable, at each side of the rail, to a level effective to align the wrench elements with the nuts to be operated upon, and means tending normally to hold said wrench support at a level above the top of the rail including a coil spring and a connection between said coil spring and the subframe.

12. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon. a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a sub-frame mounted upon said main frame for lateral and generally horizontal oscillation in relation thereto about a vertical axis generally vertically aligned with the rail, a wrench support mounted on said sub-frame for vertical movement in relation to said sub-frame and the rail upon which.

the sub-frame is mounted, said wrench supportv extending substantially beyond the end of the frame, and a pair of wrench elements rotatably mounted upon said support, one at each side thereof, the wrench elements being oppositely faced, the wrench support being movable, at each side of the rail, to a level eifective to align the wrench elements with the nuts to be operated upon, and means tending normally to hold said wrench support at a level above the top of the rail, and means for manually thrusting the wrench support effective to align the wrench elements with the nuts to be operated upon.

13. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially above the level of the top of said rail, a wrench support supported upon said base frame and mounted for oscillation about a generally horizontal axis, a wrench rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end of said wrench support, said wrench including a shaft and means for rotating it, a squared extension upon said shaft, a wrench socket including an aperture conforming generally to said squared extension, said socket element being rotatably mounted upon said support, and means for maintaining the axis of rotation of said socket member slightly inclined relative to the axis of rotation of said shaft.`

14. A device for tightening and removing horizontally axised nuts or bolts from rails, which includes a base frame movably mounted upon a rail of a track and extending substantially' et including an aperture conforming generally to said squared extension, means for rotatably supporting said wrench socket upon the wrench support with the aperture of the wrench socket in loose engagement with said squared extension and means for maintaining the axis of rotation of the wrench socket inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of said shaft.

15. In a wrench mechanism, a socket support, a shaft on said support and means for rotating it, said shaft including a squared extension, a socket element including an aperture conforming generally to said squared extension and means for rotatably positioning said socket element on 

